Alexander Stagnell
Rhetoric scholar, teacher & translator
I am affiliated Docent at Södertörn University and affiliated researcher at the Department of Literature and Rhetoric, Uppsala University.
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From Communist Ideology to the Idea of Communism
The article approaches a potential tension in the work of Slavoj Žižek between his critique of communist ideology and his endorsement of the communist idea. The aim is to show how this endorsement, in effect, emerged out of Žižek’s sustained engagement with communist ideology.
The Exemplary Rhetor
This article investigates the ambiguous status of rhetoric, situated between proper philosophy and mere sophistry, through Alan Badiou’s three exemplary figures of thought: the philosopher, the anti-philosopher, and the sophist.
Tragedy, Then Farce
Slavoj Žižek is frequently portrayed as the paradigmatic anti-populist thinker. Yet he is also routinely criticized for endorsing populist causes in contemporary politics, not least after his infamous remarks concerning Donald Trump during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This article aims to approach this supposed contradiction by examining Žižek’s theory of populism.
Populism and the People
Is populism the unsurpassable horizon of our own time or is it a temptation that should at all costs be resisted? Who, and to what end, does the jargon of populism serve?
Biography
Rhetoric scholar, teacher & translator
I defended my dissertation on the history of the concept of diplomacy in 2019. I have previously been a visiting doctoral student at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales, a postdoctoral researcher at Université libre de Bruxelles, and a junior researcher at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. My research have been finances by for instance the Swedish Research Council and the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies.
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Rhetoric Courses
With fifteen years of experience in teaching and researching rhetoric, I offer tailor-made rhetoric courses for all cases. Studying rhetoric means training your ability to first identify and then consider the many different options we face when formulating a persuasive message. Which word is most appropriate in a given situation? Which image evokes the right emotions in the audience?
Becoming an effective and convincing rhetorician is primarily about preparing yourself in the right way. Rhetorical methods help us to systematically understand and evaluate every communication situation. Furthermore, rhetoric is not just the art of speech. It helps us to consider how we should formulate all types of messages for all types of recipients.
Are you curious about what rhetoric can do for you and your organisation? Fill in the form and I will contact you to discuss your needs.